"This passion for weapons is long-standing. I used to go to shooting ranges. Unfortunately since I've been at the Vatican I had to stop," Domenico Calcagno, head of the Administration of Vatican Patrimony, told Il Fatto Quotidiano.

"It's innocent. What I like above all is repairing weapons," he said.

The 68-year-old cardinal owns at least 13 weapons including the famous 357 Magnum made by Smith & Wesson and a Hatsan shotgun, according to the website Savonanews from Savona in northwest Italy where Calcagno used to be the bishop.

The website said Calcagno was also a keen hunter and had several rifles.

Cardinal Calcagno is the president of the Administration of the Vatican Patrimony of the Apostolic See. He reports that his firearms are kept in a locked safe in Savona where he used to be bishop.

You have to wonder what the favorite priest of the Chicago gun prohibitionists, Fr. Michael "Snuffy" Pfleger, makes of this cardinal and his passion. My guess it isn't good.